The All State

»By ANTHONY SHINGLER – ashingler@my.apsu.edu

The 2011 Lady Govs soccer team have to answer only one question this season: “How do you improve on a recording breaking, historic season?”

The answer is simple: Win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.

The 2010 Lady Govs earned the most wins in program history with a 15-6-1 record. They were one of only three teams to earn a spot in the OVC tournament and the only team to make it to the championship game.

However, Morehead State defeated the Lady Govs 2-1 and became the conference champions.

Key players on both sides of the ball are back this season, ready to not only prove last season was not a fluke, but to also be the first team in program history to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.

TEAM BREAKDOWN
The Lady Govs lost six seniors from last year’s OVC tournament runner-up team, but return six starters, including their top three scorers. Two of those scorers will be on the front line with Ole Miss transfer Emily Perkins. They are two of the talented freshmen class who now make up the seven sophomores on the team.

Head coach Kelley Guth is looking for leadership from the eight upperclassmen on the team.

“We lost a lot of leadership, graduating two captains that were captains for three and four years. It was one of our biggest obstacles going into our spring last year, trying to establish leadership with the returning players,” Guth said.

“Now we are here and have been here for three weeks. The freshmen have acclimated well, are working very hard and have had great performances. Our transfers Perkins and Zigelsky have both stepped up and contributed to our team’s success so far. The transition has been really good this season. It has been a really exciting start. The girls have been really working hard and we will continue to just get better.”

The midfield will be anchored by Jocolyn Murdoch, Natalia Ariza, and Joceline Quiceno, all of whom return from last season. Returning players holding down the back line include Sara Kluttz, Emily Kink and Renny Robinson.

“Our backline, I have to give a lot of credit to, and our team focus defensively as a unit. We spent a lot of time in preseason on defending as a team,” Guth said.

“We are defending well and it is great when you can defend well and put the ball in the back of the net.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH

All eyes are on sophomore forward Tatiana Ariza. After leading the team with 11 goals last season, Ariza joined the Colombian national team that participated in the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

Ariza is already on pace to surpass her totals from last year. With the five goals she has scored in the first two games of the season, Ariza is now APSU’s second all-time leading scorer.

Also turning heads with her offense is freshman forward Claire Putz. Putz has scored five goals in the first two games, keeping pace with Ariza. Putz joined the team from La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M.

Senior Mackenzie Ladd and Sophomore Haylee Shoaff are both making convincing arguments for time as goalkeeper. The two have combined to produce two shutouts.

“We have two keepers that have really been competing back and forth with one another,” Guth said.
“They have been splitting the time right now just to give them some experience .”
STARTING THE SEASON

The Lady Govs have started the regular season by setting the road on fire. First, they set a record by scoring 14 goals against Alabama A&M. Five different players found the net, led by Putz’s four goals.

In addition, Ariza and Perkins both made three goals. Alabama was held to only one shot and no goals.
Next, the team traveled to Chattanooga and earned their second win over the Mocs, 4-0. Ariza found the net two more times. Putz and Perkins both added one.

Chattanooga was able to generate nine shots. However, Ladd and Shoaff combined for five saves and kept the game a shutout.

The Lady Govs will play their home opener against Union University on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

They will play two more home games later that weekend on Friday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 4.
The rematch against Morehead State will be the last game of the season on Sunday, Oct. 30. TAS

By MARLON SCOTT Senior Staff Writer
If this were a movie, the Lady Govs soccer team would have won.

Like all classic sports movies, this team won only one game last season would have walked into Jayne Stadium Sunday, Nov. 7, dressed in their white uniforms (because they are the good guys) and battled the bigger, better and meaner Morehead Lady Eagles who beat them earlier this season in an epic championship game.

The score would have remained 1-1 until the last second of the game. Then, a Lady Gov player who has not scored a goal all year would have closed her eyes and kicked the ball just past the outstretched fingers of the diving goalkeeper.

But this is not a movie and the reality is the Lady Govs walked into Jayne Stadium Sunday, Nov. 7 in their black uniforms, played in the OVC Championship final and lost 2-1.

Although the reality does not make a great sports movie, it does make history.

The 2010 Lady Govs soccer team were one step away from an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. No team in the program’s history has ever made it to the NCAA tournament. Since the program’s start in 2002, only two other teams have played in the OVC tournament.
This is the only team to make it to the championship game.

In addition, it was done after a season with the programs second worse record (1-13-14), making this the biggest turnaround in program history as well.

“Of course, getting to this level in the conference is our goal every year,” said head coach Kelley Guth.

“The accomplishment to reach the championship game this year after last season being chosen to finish ninth in the conference is a tribute to our team and our girls.”

The 2010 Lady Govs soccer team is the winningest team in the programs history with a 15-6-1 record.

From 2007-2009, the teams had won one conference game. This team won four.

After being shutout 13 times last season, this team was only shutout four times and shutout their opponents 13 times.

Shutouts were only one of many categories in which the Lady Govs led the conference.

They were at the top of the conference in shots, goals, points and attendance. Also at the top of the statistics were the Lady Govs’ leading scorers,Tatiana Ariza and her sister Natalia Ariza.

Tatiana led the team in goals, including six game winners. It was the most game winners in the conference.

She also led the conference in points and was second in the conference in goals and shots.

Natalia was as dynamic as her sister.

She was second on the team in goals and game winners. In addition, she was second in the conference in game winners and was in the top ten in goals and points.

The Ariza sisters’ offense was helped most by Andy Quiceno, who led the team and the conference in assists.

Quiceno and the Ariza sisters are key examples of the additions to the team this season responsible for the remarkable turnaround.

Although the play of the six savvy seniors on the team — Monique Wong, Carley Newman, Mary Beth Burchett, Samantha Northrup, Michelle Johnson and Hannah Jones — was also essential to the team’s success and will be missed next year, fans of the team have to be, excited about the programs future with freshmen like Ariza.

“We have laid a foundation here. This year has been remarkable. The team has accomplished so much. I am so proud of them and we are only going to get better from here,” Guth said. TAS

By ANTHONY SHINGLER |  Senior Staff Writer

What else can be said about the APSU Lady Govs’ successful run through the Ohio Valley Conference Soccer Championships Sunday, Nov. 7. Morehead State prevailed in a 2-1 victory for the tournament title over the Lady Govs.

“We had a tremendous year. It’s disappointing, but everything has to end,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “I thought our team came out and played a heartfelt game. They laid it all on the line and we just came up one goal short. It’s disappointing, but what a game.”

The Lady Govs were led throughout the tournament by All-OVC Tournament team award winners Carley Newman, Tatiana Ariza and Natalia Ariza. Newman’s guidance from her post in goal was pivotal. She came up with key saves and posted a clean sheet throughout the tournament. Offensively, both Tatiana and Natalia Ariza posted two goals a piece.

“They (Ariza twins) have been a tremendous addition to our program and I am looking forward to working with them for the next three years,” Guth said.

Tatiana showed why she is dangerous when she struck from distance in the 22nd minute of the game. She fired a shot that pinged off the goal post and into the back of the net. The goal was a 1-1 equalizer. Morehead’s Giuleana Lopez scored the first goal of the game in the 16th minute.

Lopez would end the game with two goals scored and later be named the MVP of the tournament. Her second goal, an impressive header off a cross from her teammate Erin Adams in the 30th minute, turned out to be the game winner.

“She is a dangerous attacking player for them. She is very good in the air, very athletic and hard working player,” Guth said. “Lopez was in the position today to put the ball in the back of the net and did a tremendous job.”

Lopez was the head of an aggressive Morehead offense which attacked early and often. They launched 12 shots in the first period and finished the game with the advantage of 18 shots to just four Lady Gov cracks.

Lady Gov senior goalkeeper Carley Newman stayed busy. She made three saves in the first period and finished the game with five total. Newman made 17 saves in the tournament and also earned a shutout.

“We are very strong on our defense. We got scored on twice, but I don’t think that shows what our defense is capable of,” Newman said.

Although the Lady Govs would have preferred a win and to continue to the NCAA tournament, they are not letting the loss to Morehead tarnish their golden season.

“We felt like we deserved to be here and so did everyone else on the Austin Peay side,” Newman said.

“We came out here to prove people wrong, and I think that is what we have done.” TAS

By Marlon Scott, Senior staff writer
The Lady Govs soccer team donned their black uniforms to face the top seeded Morehead Lady Eagles in the OVC Championship game at Morehead’s Jayne Stadium Sunday, Nov. 7. The Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Govs 1-0, in their previous meeting this season. However, the Lady Govs have won five straight games since that meeting to earn a spot in the championship game for a rematch.

Update:
The Lady Govs were unable to get on the offensive against aggressive Morehead play. Morehead retained control of the game and defeat Lady Govs 2-1.

Update:
Morehead continues to lead with 10 minutes left in second half. The Lady Eagles continue to play aggressive and press Lady Govs defense.
Newman makes save on back-to-back shots on goal.
Lady Eagles get cornerkick with less than eight minutes remaining. Fail to convert.

Update:
Lady Govs trail the Lady Eagles 1-2 at halftime

Natalia Ariza battles Morehead's Devan Jordan in OVC Championship Game.

Update:
The Lady Govs remain on the defensive. Newman defends another shot on goal in the 32nd minute.
Lopez hits a header past Newman for her second goal of the game with 14:28 left in the first period. Morehead leads 2-1.

Update:
Lady Gov freshman forward Tatiana Ariza ties the score, 1-1, with a goal in the 23rd minute.

Update:
Morehead’s Giuleana Lopez scores in the 17th minute. Morehead leads 1-0.

Morehead is pressing the Lady Govs early. The Lady Govs have been forced to defend against two cornerkicks in the first four minutes of the game.

The Lady Govs remain on the defensive. Senior goalkeeper Carly Newman makes a save at the 38:11 mark.

The Lady Govs go on the offensive. Senior Michelle Johnson takes a shot on goal at the 35:32 mark. The shot is deflected by the goalkeeper and sets up a Lady Govs cornerkick. The Lady Govs fail to score.

The Lady Eagles get their third cornerkick with 32:11 remaining in the period. The Lady Govs defense holds and the score remains 0-0.

By ANTHONY SHINGLER | Senior Staff Writer

After clinching their spot in the OVC Tournament last weekend against Tennessee Tech, the APSU Lady Govs took care of business against future Ohio Valley Conference foe SIU-Edwardsville, Sunday, Oct. 31. in a 2-1 win to close out the regular season.

“With the number of players we had out today, this is a really good win for us,” head coach Kelley Guth said. “We had a chance to get some players on the field and give them some experience today. They did really well and that’s a great sign. Going into the tournament, we are counting on some players stepping up.”

The Lady Govs jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when Tatiana Ariza found the back of the net for the ninth time this season off an assist from her sister Natalia Ariza in the 17th minute. A few minutes later, Natalia Ariza blasted home a penalty kick for a 2-0 lead in the 25th minute. The goal was her fourth of the season and second in two games.

“The biggest thing in this game was for us to make sure we were attacking out of the midfield and making them defend,” Guth said. “We wanted to do a better job of reading defenders and finding the final pass for execution. We did a better job of that today.”

SIU-Edwardsville would find stride in the 90th minute by a strike from Chelsey Johnston from Ashley Davidson. But it was too little to late. SIU-Edwardsville (8-7-1) will be joining the OVC in the 2011 season. During the 2010 season, they mustered a few wins against Murray State, Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois.

“They’ve had a very good year and are going to be great competition coming into the conference,” Guth said. “This is a big win on the road and it gives us some added confidence going into the tournament.”

With this game coming before the conference tournament, Guth used the game as an opportunity to rest key Lady Govs who were injured, as well as emphasize set pieces.

That focus on set pieces led to the set up of the game’s first goal, when freshman Tatiana Ariza scored from a corner kick from freshman Emily Kink.

“We moved Emily to the back today,” Guth said. “She played 90 minutes at outside back and did very well. For her as a freshman to make that move, she really stepped up and was solid all day. Joceline and Natalia played excellent in the midfield for us today also.”

APSU returns to action when the 2010 OVC Championship kicks off at Morehead State, Thursday, Nov. 4. APSU will go on to face Murray State at 8 p.m and the winner faces Southeast Missouri. TAS

By ANTHONY SHINGLER | Senior Staff Writer

The Lady Govs’ record book season continues and they will get an opportunity to try to win the program’s first OVC Tournament title after a 2-1 win Sunday, Oct. 24, at Tennessee Tech.

The Lady Govs (12-5-1 overall, 4-3-1 OVC) finished the conference season tied for second and will take the third seed and face rival Murray State in the first round of the 2010 OVC Soccer Championships at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4, in Morehead, Ky.

“This is extremely exciting for the team,” said Lady Govs head coach Kelley Guth in a press release.

“We’ve accomplished a lot this season and this was a huge game for us. It was a battle the whole way. [Tennessee] Tech fought and it was a real back-and-forth match. It was emotional for both sides. We executed and got the win, which was crucial for us to secure our highest seed possible in the postseason.”

The goal that would send the Lady Govs to victory came in the 82nd minute when Natalia Ariza found the back of the net on a direct kick from a handball by one of the Tennessee Tech defenders. The goal by Natalia Ariza is her third of the season.

“A week ago I changed the set play from what we had normally done,” Guth said. “Right before the game today, I decided to go back to our regular corner. Our first corner kick, she was back in her normal spot and Renny got the ball to her. [Northrup] got a half-volley with her left foot and it was a brilliant goal.”

The move back to the original lineup paid off when Samantha Northrup scored in the 22nd minute off a corner kick. Northrup was set up from Laurena Robinson and drilled a shot past the TTU diving keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Tennessee Tech started the second half with an equalizer on an unassisted goal by Kerri Reid. The Lady Govs would respond later with Ariza’s goal.

The goal by Ariza with less than 10 minutes remaining is a situation the Lady Govs have experience grinding out victories before the final horn. In the wins over EKU and JSU, the Lady Govs game winners came in the 89th and 84th minutes, respectively.

“Sam has been such an awesome player for us. A four-year captain,” Guth said. “She doesn’t get a lot of recognition for what she contributes, especially since we’ve moved her into the back line. She’s never been a player to get a lot of stats, kind of an unsung hero for us. That goal was such a reward for all of her hard work, I couldn’t be happier for her.”

The Lady Gov defense held their lines allowing six shots with only one shot on goal. But the high octane Lady Govs offense ripped 12 shots with six coming on goal, and were led by freshman phenom Tatiana Ariza’s game-high five shots. Both Natalia Ariza and Samantha Northrup’s goals came on their only shots.

“I’m proud of our team and excited for what comes next,” Guth said. “It starts all over again next week. It’s a brand new season once again. We’ve got to do our best to prepare for the tournament. We want to get our team focused and prepared to go to Morehead State and perform as best we can in order to make a run at a championship.”
Even though the Lady Govs are in the OVC Championships they have a tune-up game on Halloween when they travel to SIU Edwardsville Sunday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. TAS